A double inquest was held in the Vestry Hall, Rushden, on Monday, by Mr. J. T. Parker, the county coroner, touching the death of Mrs. Ada Fryer, Upton Place, who died as the result of injuries received from a fall on Saturday evening, and also touching the circumstances surrounding the death of Thomas Lines, Sartoris-road, who died suddenly on Sunday evening. Mr. George Bayes was chosen foreman of the jury. After the jury had been to view the two bodies the following evidence was taken: —

Dr. Owen said he was fetched by a man to Upton-place at one o'clock on Sunday afternoon He found deceased in bed in a semi-conscious state. Roused and asked where she was hurt, she said at the back of the head. He found an irregular cut on the head and much swelling. She also complained of injury to her thigh. He found the thigh badly bruised, but not fractured. She had had drink, but was sober enough to tell him that she fell downstairs. She did not blame anyone. He gave instructions as to what should be done, and one of the men fetched medicine. The man came again at five o'clock and said she was dead. Death was due to the injury to the head. Jane Clayton, living with her sister in Upton-place, said Mrs. Fryer was in her (witness's) house on Saturday night. Deceased was a widow and was about 50 years of age. She left witness's house about 11.30 the worse for drink, having been there all the evening, but having no more drink. She unlocked the door and went upstairs to fetch a lamp. As she was coming down again she fell from the top to the bottom of the stairs. Witness left here there, and asked two men to go, but they refused. Witness got a candle and matches and went back, finding Clarke Sargent there. Witness then went away, and Sargent went in. Witness did not think anyone else was in the house.—By Inspector Onan: Deceased was not in the habit of having drink in witness's house.—To a juror: She did not see deceased again.—By the Coroner: The rail at the top of the stairs had been broken off for a long time, ever since witness had known the house. She did not know if the landlord knew that the rail was broken.

Clarke Sargent, labourer, Upton-place, said he was in the house of Mr. Myers, next door to Fryer's, on Saturday night, at 11.30, when he heard a great crash in Mrs. Fryer's house. On going there he found the house in darkness. He struck a match and found deceased lying with her head on the floor and her legs up the stairs. A lamp glass was lying broken under her head. He went back to the Myers' house, and they brought light. Deceased was picked up and washed. She came round a bit, but did not say how she had hurt herself. She was put to bed, and witness left the house. No one suggested a doctor, as they did not think it was so serious. She walked upstairs with help. Witness heard nothing before hearing the crash.—To a juror: He did not know whether anyone besides Mr. and Mrs. Myers and himself saw deceased that night. Thomas Haseldine, rivetter, Abbot's-yard, said he went to see deceased about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning. He had known her about six years. She was in bed, and complained of her back and head, saying that she had fallen down stairs the night before, but did not say how the fall occurred. She asked for a doctor, and Mr. Myers, who had gone in with witness, went for Dr. Owen. Witness afterwards bathed deceased's head, as directed by the doctor. She did not appear to get any worse, and witness left the house four o'clock, locking the door, at deceased's request. Witness went back about five o'clock, and on going upstairs found the deceased dead. There were no marks of any struggle. He did not think the case was serious, and she seemed in good spirits. He believed she took her medicine, and she had some beer about half-past twelve. She also had a good dinner of mutton and a leg of a rabbit. In the afternoon she got up and went out into the yard.—By a juror: She had about three pints of beer.—The Coroner: But that is outrageous.—Witness: Well, if I tell the truth, she had about that.—To a juror: Witness fetched the beer thinking it would do her good. He had heard that she had a lot of beer on Saturday night.—To Inspector Onan: He believed her husband was still alive. He brought her from South Africa and left her. She was a native of the Oundle district.—By a juror: She had two daughters.—By the Coroner: She lived alone and took in washing. He believed the husband was a ship builder.—The Coroner: What you say you did appears very foolish, and was certainly dangerous. To give a person so much beer when suffering from a wound on the head was very bad indeed. The doctor would never dream of that being given.—Witness: The deceased asked for it, and he thought it would do no harm.—The Coroner said that as there appeared to have been no one in the house except deceased the accident was apparently her own fault. It was probable that if she had been properly attended to, she might have recovered. It was most foolish thing to do.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."

SUDDEN DEATH
The enquiry into the circumstances touching the death of Thomas Lines, farm labourer, 57 fears of age, was then proceeded with.

Charles Arthur Lines, shoemaker, a son of deceased, said his father had been about his work as usual up to Saturday night last. He had not been ill or attended by a doctor since witness could remember. On Sunday morning, however, he complained of pains across his chest. In the afternoon he said he felt better, and went out soon after six to the Oakley Arms. He returned about half-past seven. He walked across the house and back, and then sat down. He started coughing and sneezing, and threw himself back in the chair. He died without saying a word. Witness got a glass of water, but his father could not take it, and then went for his sister, who lived next door. His father died immediately the sister arrived. He had never complained of the pain before.

Ellen Mooring, wife of William Mooring, shoe finisher, living next door to deceased, said she saw her father on the Sunday morning, when he complained of a pain across his chest. She did not see him again till her brother fetched her about 7.30. Her father was then sitting in the chair, looking as if he was dying. She tried to give him water, but he could not take it, and died before further assistance could be obtained. He had not been attended by a doctor for several years.

William Mooring, Sartoris-road, said he went out with deceased about 6.15, and was with him at the Oakley Inn for about an hour. He had two glasses of port wine only. He made no complaint, though witness had heard that he had been ill in the morning. Witness noticed nothing stranger than usual about deceased, who went straight home.

Dr. Baker said he saw deceased soon after en eight o'clock. He was then sitting in the chair, quite dead. There were no signs of violence. Death was undoubtedly due to heart disease.—A verdict was returned in agreement with the medical testimony.